News date published: 8th June 2008
The Diocese of Monmouth and the University of Wales, Newport, have announced the appointment of Reverend Mark Soady, BTh RMN SSC CF(V), as chaplain to the University.
The post, which is combined with part-time duties at All Saints Church in Newport, will see the Chaplain giving pastoral care and support to both staff and students at the University. Work has just begun on a £35 Million new City Centre Campus for the University, to be opened in 2010.
Welcoming the appointment Lawrence Wilson, head of Student Services at Newport’s University, said: “We look forward to the contribution Mark will make to the student experience at Newport, the support he will be able to offer staff, the further development of community relations and the expertise and experience he will bring to bear on the future success of the university.”
The Bishop of Monmouth, Rt Revd Dominic Walker OGS, added: “Mark is a gifted priest with a warm pastoral heart. Universities are involved in educating people to develop mentally and spiritually, and Mark is ideally suited for such a role.”
Commenting on his appointment, Fr Mark said: “I am excited to have been given the chance to establish this post at an interesting time in the life of the University. It is right that the church meets people where they are, in their work place, in university or in the armed forces. Posts like this give us that opportunity.”
Fr Mark, who has spearheaded the fundraising appeal for Newport’s Cathedral, is to leave the cathedral staff at the end of the summer. Before entering the ordained ministry he was a psychiatric nurse and he also served as personnel assistant to the late Lord (Roy) Jenkins of Hillhead, and worked on democratisation programmes in Africa, Central & Eastern Europe.
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